Balloons, large decorative signs and screaming fans filled the bleachers in the McClintock High school gymnasium on Tuesday night for girls basketball Senior Night.

Five seniors were introduced to the court for their last time at home as they walked through a tunnel of their fellow teammates.

Senior Night introductions were full of energy, but the Chargers had a slow start to their game against the Paradise Valley Trojans. McClintock was able to pick up momentum by the end of the first half, having only scored four points in the first quarter but managed to go into halftime only trailing 20-16.

With just six seconds left in the game, senior captain Mya Scott sank a 3-pointer to tighten the score, but the Chargers were defeated, 42-39.

“Our defense stepped up a whole lot," Chargers head coach Sherre Walker said. "I wanted to switch it, but I didn’t, and the girls got more effective and more aggressive and that led us to kind of come back.” 

The Chargers started closing the gap in the second and third quarters, trailing by only five points going into the fourth quarter.

The Trojans only scored a combined 13 points in the second and third quarters as the McClintock defense stepped up.

“We had a really great first quarter," Trojans head coach Britt Folk said. "We scored 16 points and then kind of let up the second quarter with four points, but our leadership kept us composed and we were able to keep that lead.” 

Folk said she told her players that their defense would ultimately win them the game.

McClintock’s senior captain, Mya Scott, overperformed despite an injury to help keep the game close.

“I don’t play like this every game,”  Scott said.  “I just got off an injury, actually I’m still injured, but I just had to push through, especially for tonight since it was Senior Night.”

Scott had several family members in attendance cheering loudly for her throughout the game.

Scott’s mom, Diana Jimenez-Scott said, “I’m the one trying to hold back tears right now. We’ve been sitting in the stands for nine years.”

Scott scored four 3-pointers and put up 14 points in her final home game for McClintock. Before Tuesday’s game she had posted 179 points this season, making her the Chargers' leading scorer, followed by junior power forward Jasmine Belt with 165 points on the season. 

Walker said she has her eyes on Jasmine Belt, as well as shooting guards Capprianna Sampson and Amber Ayon, to take on leadership roles next season.